Author: PTI
Publication: Afternoon Despatch and Courier
Date: February 18, 2008
The Samajwadi Party has criticised Railway
Minister Lalu Prasad' remark about performing chhat puja in Mumbai saying
these were 'provocative' "I don't agree with what Lalu has said",
SP General Secretary Amar Singh told reporters here when asked to comment
on reports that the RJD chief had dared to perform the puja in front of Maharashtra
Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's residence.
Chhat puja is performed by facing the Sun.
Today they talk about performing it in front of Raj Thackeray's residence…
Tomorrow, they will say something about performing it in his bedroom. We are
opposed do such provocative remarks", he said.
Asked about an editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece
Saamna asking him to practice his brand of politics outside Maharashtra, Singh
declined to comment. "Saamna calls me as Hanuman of the Bachchan family.
Thank God thay are not calling me Ravana" he quipped.
Singh refuted Raj Thackeray's charge that
he was only reacting to Singh's reportedly offering 'lathi' (sticks) to north
Indians in Mumbai. "My politics is not about offering is about tolerating
assaulting assault by lathis", Singh said.
"Shivaji Maharaj is not only the pride
of Maharashtra but also that of the entire country. Same with Lord Ganesh
whom the entire country welcomes as Ganpati Bappa Moraya", Singh said.
The word 'Maratha' is also in our national
anthem, he added.
Top leaders, including President, Home Minister
and Agriculture Minister, are from Maharashtra, Sing said. Like in the Centre,
Congress and NCP are in ruling coalition in the state as well but for the
13 days of the violence, the state government was inactive, he said.
